Richmond's C-130J aircraft shot at in Iraq overnight

By
Bianca La Cioppa

A C-130J Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond was fired at by Islamic State fighters in Iraq overnight.

A C-130J Hercules aircraft from RAAF Base Richmond was fired at by Islamic State fighters in Iraq overnight.

The aircraft was lucky not to be hit.

The C-130J Hercules had been dropping bundles of water, energy bars and hygiene packs to locals. So far, they have delivered 15 bundles to the isolated civilians.

The Australian Defence Force said they stand ready to provide further air-lift assistance to Iraq, with the C-130J Hercules and C-17A Globemaster aircraft available to support this task.

UPDATE:

Prime Minister Tony Abbott said on Tuesday morning that there has been no confirmation that Islamic State jihadists fired upon an Australian plane delivering humanitarian aid in Iraq.

"I have no advice to that effect, I've seen the report in the paper, yes they were flying into an active combat zone so there may have been fire in the area but I'm not advised they came under direct fire themselves," he told Macquarie Radio this morning.

Personnel from 176 Air Dispatch Squadron load bundles of humanitarian aid into the Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules transport aircraft.